The municipality of Sagada is classified as a fifth-class municipality in Mountain Province under the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). It was in 1847 that the place was established as a political unit, but it was only on the 25th of June 1963 that the Municipality of Sagada came into existence under Executive Order Number 42.

The Spaniards first came in contact with the people of Sagada during the period of 1625-1700s. The expedition in the area was driven by the search for precious metals such as gold and copper to name a few. It was only during the 1830s when the name “Sagada” came about. It came from a group of Spanish soldiers who came from Besao. They met a man who was carrying a rattan basket for catching fish near Danum Lake. The soldiers asked the man what the name of the municipality was. Thinking that they were asking what he was carrying, he replied, “Sagada”. From then on, the settlement founded by Biag went down on Spanish record as Sagada (Cordillera Almanac, 1999).

The people of Sagada belong to the Northern Kankana-ey ethnolinguistic group, but they commonly identify themselves as Igorots, which means “people of the mountains”. Igorot people are known to be industrious and famous for their work in reference to construction of rice terraces, irrigation canals, vegetable production, cloth weaving, and their use of iron implements. With reference to the Bontocs occupying the eastern part of Mountain Province, the iSagada, together with the other Northern kankana-ey communities on the western section of the Mt. Province, are classified as Applai by the Office of the Northern Cultural Communities (ONCC).

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

A.Geographical Location

The Municipality of Sagada, Mountain Province is located in the northwestern portion of Mountain Province at 17° 05’ N and 120° 54’ E. It is politically bounded on the North by the Municipality of Tubo, Abra on the East by the Municipality of Bontoc, on the South by the Municipality of Sabangan, and on the West by the Municipalities of Bauko and Besao.

It is accessible by road either through the Halsema Highway (also called the Mountain Trail) from Baguio City or the National Highway passing through Banawe, Ifugao. It is approximately 157 kilometers from Bontoc.

B.Barangay Subdivision

Sagada has a total land area of 9,969 hectares (MPDO, 2007) which is higher than the mapped domain area of 8,698 hectares in 1997 (ADMP, 2004).

The biggest barangay is Aguid which covers almost 2,717.68 hectares or 27% of the total land area. It covers the Amsulong watershed of the municipality. Barangay Pide, on the other hand, is the smallest barangay in Sagada which only covers 87.93 hectares or 0.88% of the whole municipality.

The land area is distributed to the following land uses:

LAND USE

AREA (in hectare)

%

Built-up Areas

530.26

5.32

Tourism

50

0.5

Alienable & Disposable

202.84

2.03

Protection Forest

4,506.06

45.20

Non-Nipas

3,200.86

32.11

Severe Erosion

1,458.43

14.63

River

20.55

0.21

TOTAL

9,969

100

POPULATION, HOUSEHOLD AND FAMILY NUMBER PER BARANGAY

CY2016

Actual Population By Barangays, Sex, Households and Families

BARANGAY

NSO POPULATION

ACTUAL POPULATION

HOUSEHOLDS

(ACTUAL)

FAMILIES

(ACTUAL)

MALE

FEMALE

TOTAL

MALE

FEMALE

TOTAL

NO.

%

NO.

%

NO.

%

160

172

AGUID

612

355

316

671

217

223

AMBASING

817

402

397

799

205

238

ANKILENG

1020

484

494

978

82

84

ANTADAO

369

179

163

342

173

210

BALUGAN

834

481

431

912

197

221

BANGA-AN

722

521

457

978

185

219

DAGDAG

835

426

430

856

179

204

DEMANG

778

368

386

754

103

112

FIDELISAN

474

222

231

453

96

102

KILONG

403

235

215

450

132

155

MADONGO

498

307

299

606

52

61

NACAGANG

1577

132

115

247

403

490

PATAY

372

672

735

1407

116

124

PIDE

261

243

212

455

104

116

SUYO

405

237

223

460

79

98

TACCONG

323

177

166

343

89

97

TANULONG

413

220

198

418

91

135

T. NORTE

407

198

184

382

94

109

T. SUR

419

244

216

460

96

110

TOTAL

11540

6103

50.98

5868

49.08

11971

100

2853

3280

%

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

A.Topography

Sagada, like the other municipalities situated in CAR, has a mountainous terrain. It has a gentle to very steep slopes with many portions of gradually sloping valleys in the west-central and northeastern areas. Elevation ranges from 910 meters above sea level on Mount Kaman-engel.

Ground subsidence and unstable ground hazards were identified in some portions of Barangays Ankileng and Poblacion particularly in settlement areas. The municipality is also prone to other geologic hazards because of the presence of a fault line on its southeastern side, which traverses from Apayao to Otucan, Bauko.

D.Climate

Sagada has a Type I climate based on the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Coronas Climate Classification System. Type I climates have two pronounced seasons: wet and dry. The dry season is from November to April while the wet season is from May to October.

Sagada generally experiences a cool climate because of its relative high elevation. The cold weather is experienced from December until February, which are the coldest months. The Northern Area of the municipality has a relatively colder climate because it has the highest elevation in the area.

E.Geology

Sagada is distinct for its limestone formations and underground rivers. The dominant types of minerals found in Sagada are sand, gravel and boulder aggregate, gold, calcium and limestone. (MAO, 2005)

NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

A.Water

Water is a basic resource for Sagada. It is used for domestic consumption in the households and for economic activities such as rice and vegetable production, livestock grazing, and also for the local tourism industry. Water sources or springs for domestic and irrigation supplies are spread out in Sagada.

Springs, creeks, and rivers are being tapped for household use and irrigation purposes. The rivers do not only provide and convey water for irrigation but they are also sources of edible freshwater products like eel, mudfish, and crabs. Rivers are also sources of aggregates for local infrastructure projects. In addition, river stones are used in the rehabilitation and maintenance of stonewalls in the municipality.

Sagada is a tributary of the Chico River. There are two major river systems in Sagada: (1) a major river system which starts from the northern area of the municipality and runs through the Bomod-ok Falls and passes through the eastern area. The Mabileng Irrigation, the largest irrigation system in Northern Sagada is sourced from Bomod-ok and irrigates the payeos in Aguid, Pide, Fidelisan and Tanulong; (2) a major river system which starts from Bangaan then traverses the westcentral barangays through the southern area and eventually connects to the Chico River at the junction in Malitep. It is the main source for irrigation and domestic water supply for the west-central and southern barangays. Both rivers drain into the Chico River. (Ancestral Domain Management Plan (ADMP), 2004).

Along the municipality’s tributaries, there are also spectacular waterfalls such as Bokong falls, Bomod-ok falls, Bomayeng twin falls, Mabileng falls, and Pongas falls. The municipality is also home to remarkable caves namely: Natividad cave, Latipan cave, Crystal cave, Billiing cave, Balangagan cave, and the Sumaging Cave, which is the largest.

B.Forest Resources

Sagada’s forestland is rich with resources: these include the wood lots, herbal medicines, mushrooms, wild fruits, and the mountain tea. The forests in Sagada are classified into three types: (1) Mossy Forest, (2) Pine Forest, and (3) Other Wooded Forest. The mossy forest has a mixed vegetation of various tree and plant species, that mostly grow in high elevation areas. On the other hand, the pine forests are dominated by the Benguet pine species.

Unlike the kallasan that are naturally growing, many of the pine forests near the settlement areas today are the result of the sacrifice and deliberate effort of the ancestors of the people to plant and propagate the pine on mountain slopes near their villages in the early 1900s. The effort of their ancestors to plant pine trees in their surroundings has produced the present timber for housing and fuel needs. (FLUP, 2014)

C.Mineral Resources

Part of Sagada’s forestlands are also rich in gold, such that one of the livelihoods of the people on the northern areas is mining. Aside from gold, numerous resources can be found in the municipality including pyrite, copper, stalagmites, stalactites, and limestone. Dominant mineral types in the municipality also include sand, gravel and boulder aggregate, and calcium.

D.Cultural Resources

Most of the lands in Sagada are declared as ancestral domain, which are covered by the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claims (CADCs). Some of the cultural resources the municipality takes pride on include rock and limestone formations. The cultural assets also include sacred areas which cover their spiritual and burial grounds. Sagada is known for its burial caves and hanging coffins, Patpatayan and Babawiyan.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

A.Solid Waste Management

B.Water Disposal

Apart from the emerging problem of the municipality with regards to solid waste management, wastewater management is also becoming one of the apparent concerns. Due to the lack of septic tanks in some houses and other wastewater treatment facilities, deterioration in the condition of the surface and groundwater reserves, which are the main sources of potable water in the municipality, are affected and at stake.

C.Hospital Waste

Hospital waste generated by the Municipal Health Office and St. Theodore’s Hospital are currently being disposed through stockpiling in a storage tank found in their vicinities. However, there is still no concrete plan as to where these used needles, bandages and other hospital waste will be disposed once filled up.

DEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL PROFILE

A.Social Composition and Characteristics

1.Mother Tongue/Ethnicity

The people of Sagada, collectively called “iSagada”. Belongs to the Kankana-ey ethnolinguistic group, further classified as Applai, a group located on the western side of the province. Kankana-ey is widely spoken but with distinct variations in the different ilis in terms of diction, intonation, and accent. It is notable that most locals express themselves better in English than in Filipino.

Sagada is known for its rice terraces, the “hanging coffins”, the Sagada Mission Compound and the dap-ay. The stretches of rice terraces are traditionally farmed for substinces. The “hanging coffins” suspended on sheer cliffs is a type of burial reserved for the most distinguished or honourable leaders in the community particularly the most prominent figure in the dap-ay. The Sagada Mission Compound which is the living legacy of the Episcopal Mission Church is often visited for its historic value. The contributions of the Sagada Mission range from education, health, economic development, and social work. The St. Mary’s school continues to provide educational services through the financial and moral support of its alumni. The St. Theodore’s Hospital, which started as a dispensary, has become the primary medical center in Sagada in tandem with the government’s Rural Health Unit (RHU). The former St. Joseph’s Orphanage has been turned into lodging house for visitors. The Sagada Episcopal Church which trained many of the earliest Episcopalian bishops in the Philippines in its seminary still has the highest number of members in Sagada. As for livelihood, the Sagada Mission also taught the iSagada the arts of weaving, sewing and exporting many textile products to other Missions abroad.

In contrast to the western-influenced church, the dap-ay stands as a testament to the age-old traditions of the iSagada. It is low-roofed small building usually found at the center of an ili adjacent to open space paved with stones. Stools and back rests for elders, fashioned out of larger stones, form a ring around platform. Usually, a moyong, which is a large tree considered so sacred that no one can cut any part of it, stands on its center or side. Nowadays, though, the dap-ay hut is no longer built with pinewood and cogon but with galvanized iron and cement. The Dap-ay is the center of political, social, and religious functions in the community. It is the place of discussion for socio-economic issues, politics, values, beliefs, population concerns, the environment, opportunities, and any other topic affecting the lives of the people. It is also the center of traditional ceremonies and practices. Today, it remains the venue for making decisions, especially on land matters. Decisions are based on the rule of the majority. After a decision is made, information dissemination is the responsibility of the dumapay, or the people belonging to one dap-ay. The dap-ay is ruled by a council of male leaders known as amam-a who earned the distinction through age, wise decisions, and religious practice of all cultural traditions. But only minor or less contentious cases are discussed in the dap-ay nowadays with most cases go to the Lupong Pambarangay (village court). The dap-ay in some settlements have lost their traditional prestige as many of their elders have died out.

Other cultural practices that are no longer strictly imposed among tourists is the Obaya. Obaya is a time to rest for a day or a number of days, when people are not allowed to do their usual work in the fields nor go out of the community. Sometimes, and Obaya forbids visitors from entering the community. The extent and duration of the obaya depends on the reason for its imposition, such as the burial of a community member or a traditional ritual being performed at that time. Such rituals include the begnas, which signals the start of major event like planting or harvesting rice. Due to the pressing need to earn a living, however, the observance of obaya even among the iSagada has waned, as many people would rather work rather than take time off to take part in the ritual. In the past, most of their work revolved around the rice fields, where the dap-ay rituals were also based.

Traditional rituals during weddings and death are sometimes shortened wherein instead of performing the ritual for a week, the ama-a (council of leaders) can be requested into doing the ritual only for a period of three days. In weddings, the groom may ask permission of amam-a to do away with the rule that the newly-wed couple cannot go out the community for a couple of days, as this would affect their work. Babayas is the term for marriage ceremonies.

As for death and burial where butchering a total of 21 pigs and a number of chickens for all the rituals performed is a practice, is believed by almost a iSagada to be lessened because of economic reasons.

Unity has always been part of the iSagada culture. A customary practice that is slowly vanishing is the ob-obbo, or the cooperative effort of a group of people, which is often done during kay-kay (a time to prepare the fields for dry farming) or sama (a time to prepare the rice fields for wet farming). Ob-obbo practice extends to financial matters especially during special events like the babayas (traditional marriage ritual) and when someone dies. Supon (gift money or contribution) to the couple or to the head is a mean of investment in which the couple or the bereaved family needs to make a similar exchange in the form of money, goods, or services in the future, although not necessarily for the same occasion.

B.Population Size and Growth Rate

Based on the census data from the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA),

the population growth rate of the municipality started to decline during the

1970’s dropping down to a growth rate of 3.09% in 1980. Primordial causes

of the decreased rate of population include the municipality’s 32 out-

migration trend due to the absence of tertiary schools as well as employment

opportunities outside the municipality for the locales of the municipality.

C.Population Distribution

Among the five (5) zones of Sagada namely Northern Zone, South

Central Zone, Eastern Zone and South Zone. The Northern Zone has the highest population with a percentage of 0.407% while the least populated zone is the Eastern Zone with 0.137%.

D.Population Density

The gross population density of the municipality is 1.22 persons per hectare (122 person per square kilometer) on the basis of 9,969.00 hectares of land as of the 2014 CBMS population. This shows a relative increase from the 2010 density of 1.13 persons per hectare (113 persons per square kilometer).

Health Facilities

The main health facilities in Sagada are St. Theodore’s Hospital which is a private hospital, the RHU and eight Barangay Health Stations (BHSs). Most of the leading causes of consultations and some of the admitted cases were reported as manageable at the RHU and BHSs level.

The RHU has been certified for Sentrong Sigla Phase 1 only. It is also accredited for Outpatient Consultation and Diagnosis Package (OPB) and Tuberculosis Directly-Observed Treatment Shortcourse (TB-DOTS) under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). It is equipped with the drugs, medical supplies, and equipment requirements for PhilHealth accreditation. St. Theodore’s Hospital is also accredited by the DOH and PhilHealth.

The MHO is the overall responsible health officer of the municipality. She/he is the overall manager, supervisor, trainer, and epidemiologist, medical and legal officer of the unit. She/he is ultimately responsible for all office and program activities.

1.1Make sure that the DOH program planning methodology is correctly followed by the RHU staff. This means that, among others, she/he shall make sure that the necessary data are available and are used properly; that appropriate joint meetings and adequate discussions of problems are held; and that the priorities for the municipality are in proper perspective.

1.5Determine manpower needs and decide task assignment of RHU Staff. As much as possible, in collaboration with local government officials, other GO, and NGOs, plan special strategies to provide more efficient services.

1.6Negotiate for staffing concerns such as additional staff items, detail or deployment of staff. Assessment of needs and requests for additional manpower shall take into consideration the hard to-reach areas.

1.7Recruit, assess recommend new staff for hiring

1.8Assess technical, managerial and communication skills of all RHU staff, especially the supervisory skills of the PHN.

1.10Provide on-the job training for specific needs to all RHU staff in all aspects at all possible contacts

1.11Organize in-house courses for special topics as appropriate based on identified weaknesses and problems.

1.12Develop, plan and implement an appropriate system of staff assessment, motivation and reward such as for instance, performance contracts.

1.13Periodically visit, at least every 2 months and as often as the need arises, staff at the BHS level to countercheck supervisory findings and to resolve problems. Focus must be given to problematic areas brought to her/his attention by the PHN.

1.14Provide feedback to the higher-level management regarding useful innovations developed or problems encountered at the RHU level

1.15Review and approve tools, indicators and schedules for supervision and evaluation

1.16Develop and enforce a system for proper management of logistics such as memorandum receipts, proper requisition and issue vouchers, stock records, at least twice a year ocular inventories, and other auditing and accounting procedures; This also includes reallocation of equipment to another BHS

1.17Identify and tap community resources to augment resources.

2.Health Care: As the medical officer. The MHO is the technical expert in individual care of the patient. As such she/he:

2.1Make sure that all RHU staff acquire the basic knowledge and skills required for the RHM and PHN. This will involve follow-through after formal courses, in-service training and continuing review of the clinical and patient care skills of the RHU staff, if possible at every contact with the staff

2.2Countercheck the organization of the delivery of services, including flow of patient, proper management and referral of cases, and adherence to guidelines and standard treatment, management and referral protocols.

2.3Translate the integration thrusts of the DOH particularly those in maternal and child care into practical steps to deliver services from the point of view of the clients, not the programs. This includes motivation of staff and testing of innovative schemes.

2.4Attend to cases referred by the RHM and PHN in addition to new patients needing his/her care

2.5Conduct barangay level clinics in each barangay in the municipality at least once every 3 months and as often as the need arises.

3.Epidemiology and Environmental Health: As the epidemiologist of the RHU, the MHO shall:

3.1Learn and practice all epidemiological skills necessary to do disease surveillance and outbreak investigations.

3.2Teach the RHU staff on the use of standard case definitions and assess staff capability to recognize the selected diseases.

3.5Conduct epidemiological investigations on all reported outbreaks as much as possible. This includes checking the presence of signs and symptoms according to the standard case definitions and doing clinical confirmation and if available, laboratory tests of cases.

3.6In a confirmed outbreak, institute appropriate disease control measures such as mass immunization; environmental control; or mass treatment of cases, among others.

3.7Determine the cause of death of a person dying without medical attendance and issue the necessary death certificate.

3.8Promote the registration of vital events such as births and deaths.

3.9Supervise all the recording and reporting according to standard recording and reporting formats as well as the use of these information in the management of the RHU and its activities.

3.10Exercise general supervision over the hygienic and sanitary conditions of the municipality, including private and public premises therein. In this connection, she/he shall:

·Enforce al sanitary laws and regulations applicable to his municipality and shall cause any violation to be duly prosecuted.

·Abate any nuisance endangering public health

·Identify the cause of any special disease or mortality; institute measures to eliminate these causes; and immediately report these cases to higher authorities.

·Draft and recommend to the municipal council suitable ordinances or regulations for carrying into effect the powers conferred by law upon such body in respect to matters in sanitation.

4.Legal and Medico-legal: As such, the MHO shall attend to medico-legal cases, conducts autopsies and other medico-legal clinical assessments and appears in court as the medical expert when necessary.

5. Community Organization: As the head of the RHU, he/she shall formally represent the DOH in gatherings and activities in the community. He/she shall be the guiding force and inspiration for community projects. She/he shall:

5.1Respond to requests for guidance, review and approval and attendance to community gatherings and projects.

5.2Suggest community projects and activities and actively support these to make sure the objectives are attained. This shall include identification and allocation of resources if necessary.

6.District Support: The MHO shall perform District support functions, such as coordination and monitoring of activities and programs of the other RHUs within the District, when asked to do so.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE

The PHN should work closely with the MHO. Together with the MHO, she supervises RHMs and act as the immediate assistant to the MHO. If for some reason, the MHO is not available or is not able to execute her/his functions, the PHN performs the MHO’s functions as appropriate to her capabilities. Her perspective is essential in streamlining the activities of the RHMs she supervises, most especially the community health activities.

1.Management: The PHN assists the MHO in all the management functions. To do this, the PHN shall:

1.2As much as possible, in coordination with local government officials, other GOs and NGOs, countercheck the barangay health plans and consolidate these for the municipal health plan

1.3Assist the MHO in drafting a Municipal Health Plan incorporating RHU activities and resources needed to make sure the barangay-based health plans are accomplished

1.4Assist the MHO in identifying needs in staffing and task assignments for RHU/BHS staff.

1.5Recommend special strategies for organizing manpower such as mobile teams or bayanihan teams

1.6Regularly assess the technical, management and communication skills of RHMs

1.7Draft a 3-year training plan for all RHU staff, incorporating the training needs as discussed with RHMs and taking into consideration the training, skills and knowledge requirements for RHMs. The training plan shall include the skills desired:

·Title of specific courses available

·Methodology required like on the job practicum

·Preferred schedule, Venue for training

The 3-year plan should be updated yearly

1.8Conduct post- training assessment for midwives

1.9Attend supervisory skills development courses

1.10Conduct at least once a month supervisory visits to each RHMs in their barangays according to the RHM’s capability and performance. This shall include:

·Preparation of supervisory visit schedules

·Development or adoption of supervisory checklist, indicators and tools

·Reporting of visit findings and problems

Difficulties and major or recurrent problems shall be referred to the MHO

1.11Enter into the supervisory book kept by the RHM all her monitoring findings and recommendations and the date of next visit. This will serve as a guide for the RHMs appropriate action and reference for the next monitoring visit.

1.12Act as overall property custodian of the RHU. This includes:

·Requisition, allocation, distribution and proper use of equipment, supplies and materials

·Training of other RHU staff on proper use of these materials

·Proper recording, reporting and accounting of these materials

·Timely referral for repair of nonfunctioning equipment.

She may be assisted by other RHU staff as designated by the MHO

1.13Prepares and submits required reports/records. This includes:

·Review and validate reports /records of RHMs

·Consolidate BHS reports to come up with municipal reports

·Maintain adequate, accurate and complete recording and reporting

·Prepare statistical data for display and presentation during staff meetings, conference and seminar/workshops

2.Health Care: The PHN shall recognize the special midwifery skills of the RHMs and must provide, in general, the technical guidance to RHMs on the nursing aspect of care of individual patient. To do this, the PHN shall:

2.1 Provides direct nursing care to the sick/disabled in the home, clinic, school community or place of work

2.2 Aside from the nursing knowledge and skills, learn all the basic knowledge and skills

Required of RHMs

2.3 Review the management by the RHMs of a selected number of patients.

Her review shall focus on:

·Correctness of assessment of patient’s needs

·Faithfulness to procedures according to available guidelines and protocols on proper treatment and management such as, among others, proper management child with diarrhea or cough, or appropriateness and adequacy of medicines given, taking into consideration DOH policies such as national drug policy, and the policy not to use anti-diarrheal and cough medicines on children, the standard regimen of DOH, among others.

It shall therefore, be the responsibility of the PHN to know these relevant policies and communicate these to the RHMs

2.4 Develop and adapt tools that will assist RHMs in systematically delivering services in

A client-based manner. Such tools can include, among others, poster-size treatment and management charts and flow charts pasted on wall or desk-top checklists or other materials,

2.5 Propose clinic flow and management systems that will facilitate the smooth flow of

3.5Assist in planning and implementing disease control measures especially mass immunizations, community assemblies, and health education classes during outbreak.

3.6Plan and secure necessary resources needed for disease control measures. This include calculation of resources required such vaccines, needles, and syringes and other materials.

4.Community Health Organizations: The PHN has an important and active role in community health activities. She/he provides the perspective and overall direction to these community activities. The PHN shall:

4.1Provide technical guidance to RHMs on proper identification of community health problems and strategies to solve these. She shall promote appropriate attitudes and concepts by making sure that the objectives of community participation and organization are clear to everyone and that effective methodologies to inform and mobilize communities are used.

4.2Oversee monitoring of PHC committees, CVHW training, mothers’ class and other community activities.

4.3Review curricula for CVHWs and other curricula or syllabi used in health education

activities. She shall make suggestions for improvement as appropriate.

4.4Propose a municipal level health communication plan targeted at the general public or specific sectors of the community.

RURAL HEALTH MIDWIFE

The RHM is the most peripheral first level health worker in the health system. She translates health programs and plans into direct services to clients.

1.Management: In planning, budgeting and logistics management, the RHM shall:

1.1Prepare an annual health plan for her barangays following the DOH planning methodology, as much as possible involving local Barangay officials and other community members. This includes collection of all necessary barangay level information needed in their plan; identification of problems and its causes; formulation of goals and measures; and identification of activities and resources required to accomplish these activities

1.2In consultation with her immediate supervisor, submit a list of her training, knowledge and skills requirement for the RHM

1.3 Properly use equipment, drugs and other supplies according to standard treatment and management guidelines issued by the DOH. This function shall include proper recording and accounting of equipment, supplies and materials received, disbursed and utilized/distributed; and maintenance and referral for repair of equipment.

1.4Properly maintain the health facilities and surroundings in her catchment area.

2.Health Care: In order to provide the best possible quality of service from a wide range of health services for individual patients, the RHM shall:

2.1 Learn all the basic knowledge and skills required of the RHM according to the standard requirements for RHMs through attendance in courses, in-service trainings and other learning opportunities.

2.2 Make a thorough assessment of the total health needs of her clients and their families, as much as possible during the first contact with the patient.

2.3 Provide the range of basic Maternal and child Health services according to her assessment of the needs of her clients and their families. These services should be provided in a continuing and comprehensive manner and with particular attention to high risk individuals and families.

Continuation of health care includes, among others:

ØCompletion of primary immunization doses so that all children are fully immunized before they reach one year old

ØCompletion of tetanus toxoid doses of pregnant women before they deliver

ØPromotion and monitoring of growth from birth until the age of five years

ØRegular prenatal, natal and postpartum care

ØPromotion of responsible parenthood and family planning

ØEarly identification and management of persons with communicable and non-communicable diseases

ØPromotion of sanitation activities

ØProper referral of cases beyond RHM capability

2.4 Provide primary health care services to her patients/clients and make the necessary referrals whenever the case is beyond her capability.

2.5 Conduct clinics in every barangay in her catchment area: at least once a week for barangays and once a month for the sitios.

2.6 Record all health services rendered, maintain a recording and filing system and keep a supervisory record book for her supervisors’ comments and recommendations.

3.Epidemiology and Statistics:

3.1 In disease surveillance and outbreak investigations, the RHM shall:

3.1.1Report disease incidence using the standard case definitions.

3.1.2Monitor a selected number of diseases by charting or graphing them on a weekly basis as they occur in her barangays.

3.1.3Immediately alert the MHO of any unusual increase in the Disease incidence of any of the selected diseases. For some diseases like Polio, reports are needed within 24 hours after seeing the patient.

3.2 In the registration of births and deaths, the RHM shall accomplish reports according to standard routine reporting formats within a month after the birth or the death.

3.3 In program accomplishment feedback, the RHM shall regularly and accurately report service performance using the field health services information system. She shall also use information from this system in her routine management and health care functions.

4.Community Health and Organization: To promote community participation in health care, the RHM shall:

4.1 Identify community leaders and health volunteers and other GOs and NGOs.

4.2 As much as possible in coordination with other sectors, enhance the barangay health plan with community level information and diagnosis and prepare and implement a community health plan which includes:

4.2.3Community health promotion projects such as environmental sanitation and other health activities.

4.3 Organize and monitor barangay primary health care committees and actively participate in existing community health organizations in the barangays.

4.4 Regularly follow-up and extend technical support to barangay health workers, hilots and other health volunteers within her catchment areas.

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST

The Rural Health Medical Technologist performs routing laboratory tests, examinations and procedure utilizing the microscope, chemical reagents and other apparatus, to provide data for use in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Specific Duties and Functions:

1.Performs microscopic examination of body secretions and body wastes to determine the presence or absence of pathogenic bacteria, parasites and other microorganisms.

d)Establishes good working relationship with the different community organizations, especially the barangays and involves them in the planning and implementation of sanitation activities.

2.Environmental Sanitation

a)Water Sanitation- assists in the provision and maintenance of safe and adequate water supplies to the community

b)Excreta and sewage disposal- assists in the provision and maintenance of sanitary disposal facilities for human excrement and sewage

c)Food sanitation- assists in the provision of safe and wholesome food to consumers through proper enforcement of sanitary rules and regulations and train9ing of food operators and food handlers

d)Solid waste management- helps and promotes in the provision of sanitary storage facilities, and proper collection and disposal of solid waste either by individual, group or municipal system

e)Inspect and vermin control- assists in the elimination of breeding places and harborage, and conducts or guides organized control program

f)Public place sanitation- provide technical assistance for the provision of sanitary facilities and maintenance of the sanitary condition of public places such as schools, public buildings, parks, playgrounds, hotels, amusement and recreational center, etc.

g)Environmental protection- maintains close working relations with the environmental protection agencies such as the DENR, DAR, etc.